Toilet apparatus

ABSTRACT

The toilet apparatus includes a main part and a toilet seat. The main part includes a function part, and a case cover covering the function part. The main part is attached on a toilet bowl. The toilet seat is attached rotatably to the case cover. The toilet seat has a closed state and an open state. The case cover includes an extending portion, a height of the extending portion becoming low toward forward, and a toilet seat pivot support portion provided backward the extending portion, and pivotally supporting the toilet seat. The toilet seat includes a first portion positioned forward the case cover in the closed state, and a second portion rising backward from the first portion in the closed state, overlapping the extending portion, and being pivotally supported to the toilet seat pivot support portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2016-159954, filed on Aug. 17, 2016; theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a toilet apparatus.

BACKGROUND

There has been a toilet apparatus including a main part and a toiletseat rotatably attached to the main part (e.g. JP 2011-216 A (Kokai)).In such a toilet apparatus, the configuration with a large step betweena main part and a toilet seat has been known. In this case, when a usersits deeply on the toilet seat, a portion of buttocks hits a main partstrongly, and feeling of dislike may be perceived by the user.

Therefore, in a toilet apparatus, it is desired to suppress the userfrom perceiving feeling of dislike and to improve usability, even whenthe user sits deeply on the toilet seat.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a toiletapparatus. The toilet apparatus includes a main part and a toilet seat.The main part includes a function part, and a case cover covering thefunction part. The main part is attached on a toilet bowl. The toiletseat is attached rotatably to the case cover. The toilet seat shiftsbetween a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, a user iscapable of seating upward the toilet bowl. In the open state, an uppersurface of the toilet bowl is exposed. The case cover includes anextending portion and a toilet seat pivot support portion. A height ofthe extending portion becomes low toward forward. The toilet seat pivotsupport portion is provided backward the extending portion, andpivotally supports the toilet seat. The toilet seat includes a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion is positioned forwardthe case cover in the closed state. The second portion rises backwardfrom the first portion in the closed state, overlaps the extendingportion, and is pivotally supported to the toilet seat pivot supportportion. An upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot support portionchanges to lower a height toward forward, and forms a generallycontinuous surface to an upper end surface of the second portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet apparatus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toilet apparatus according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toilet apparatus according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the toilet apparatus according to theembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are partial cross-sectional views showing areference example;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The first invention is a toilet apparatus. The toilet apparatus includesa main part and a toilet seat. The main part includes a function part,and a case cover covering the function part. The main part is attachedon a toilet bowl. The toilet seat is attached rotatably to the casecover. The toilet seat shifts between a closed state and an open state.In the closed state, a user is capable of seating upward the toiletbowl. In the open state, an upper surface of the toilet bowl is exposed.The case cover includes an extending portion and a toilet seat pivotsupport portion. A height of the extending portion becomes low towardforward. The toilet seat pivot support portion is provided backward theextending portion, and pivotally supports the toilet seat. The toiletseat includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion ispositioned forward the case cover in the closed state. The secondportion rises backward from the first portion in the closed state,overlaps the extending portion, and is pivotally supported to the toiletseat pivot support portion. An upper end surface of the toilet seatpivot support portion changes to lower a height toward forward, andforms a generally continuous surface to an upper end surface of thesecond portion.

According to the toilet apparatus, since the upper end surface of thecase cover forms a generally continuous surface to the upper end surfaceof the toilet seat, even if a user sits deeply on the toilet seat, theuser can be suppressed from receiving feeling of dislike. The toiletapparatus having favorable usability can be provided.

The second invention is the toilet apparatus of the first invention. Aheight change of a forefront of the upper end surface of the toilet seatpivot support portion in a horizontal direction is generally the same asa height change of a rear end of the upper end surface of the secondportion in the horizontal direction. A change amount increasing towardbackward of a center portion of the upper end surface of the toilet seatpivot support portion is larger than a change amount increasing towardbackward of a side end portion of the upper end surface of the toiletseat pivot support portion, and a change amount decreasing towardforward of a center portion of the upper end surface of the secondportion is larger than a change amount decreasing toward forward of aside end portion of the upper end surface of the second portion.

According to the toilet apparatus, by making the center portion of theupper end surface of the second portion lower than the side end portionof the upper end surface of the second portion, the shape of the upperend surface of the second portion can be fit to the shape of buttocks ofthe human body, and comfort to sit on can be improved. By making thecenter portion of the upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot supportportion higher than the side end portion of the upper end surface of thetoilet seat pivot support portion, when the buttocks of the user touchthe upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot support portion, whilesuppressing feeling of dislike, it is possible to make the user noticesitting on the case cover. While suppressing the user from receivingfeeling of dislike, it is possible to guide the user to an adequateposition of the toilet seat.

Third invention is the toilet apparatus of the first or secondinvention. The toilet apparatus further includes a toilet lid attachedrotatably to the case cover. The toilet lid shifts between the closedstate and the open state, in the closed state the toilet seat iscovered, and in the open state the toilet seat is exposed. The casecover is provided backward the toilet seat pivot support portion, andincludes a toilet lid pivot support portion pivotally supporting thetoilet lid, and A length in a front-back direction of the upper endsurface of the toilet seat pivot support portion is longer than a lengthin the front-back direction of an upper end surface of the toilet lidpivot support portion.

According to the toilet apparatus, by making the length in thefront-back direction of the upper end surface of the toilet seat pivotsupport portion longer than the length in the front-back direction ofthe upper end surface of the toilet lid pivot support portion, even whenthe user sits deeply on the toilet seat, it is possible to suppress morethe user from receiving feeling of dislike. The design of the toiletapparatus can be improved by showing the case cover and the toilet seattogether.

The fourth invention is the toilet apparatus of one of the first tothird inventions. The toilet seat is provided at a rear end of thesecond portion and includes a pair of hinge portions pivotally supportedto the toilet seat pivot support portion, and an upper end surface ofthe pair of hinge portions is quadrangle, and forms the generallycontinuous surface to the upper end surface of the second portion andthe upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot support portion.

According to the toilet apparatus, the design of the toilet apparatuscan be improved by showing the case cover and the toilet seat together.

Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the figures, the same reference numbers areapplied to the same constitutional elements, and detailed descriptionwill not be repeated as appropriate.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are perspective views showing a toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a toilet apparatus 2 includes a toiletseat device 4, and a western-style sit-down toilet bowl (hereinafter,for convenience of the description, simply referred to as “toilet bowl”)6. The toilet seat device 4 is attached on the toilet bowl 6. The toiletseat device 4 may be attached integrally to the toilet bowl 6 and may bedetachably attached to the toilet bowl 6. The toilet bowl 6 is providedto the toilet apparatus 2 as necessary, and can be omitted. In FIG. 2and FIG. 3, the toilet bowl 6 is not shown conveniently.

The toilet seat device 4 includes a toilet seat 10, a toilet lid 12, anda main part 14. The toilet lid 12 is provided to the toilet seat device4 as necessary, and can be omitted. The toilet seat 10 and the toiletlid 12 are pivotally supported rotatably to the main part 14.

In the specification of the application, as viewed from the user sittingon the toilet seat 10, the upper side is defined as “upward”, and asviewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10, the lower side isdefined as “downward”. As viewed from the user sitting on the toiletseat 10 with the back facing the toilet lid 12 in an open state, thefront side is defined as “forward”, the rear side is defined as“backward”, the right side is defined as “right lateral”, and the leftside is defined as “left lateral”.

The toilet bowl 6 includes a bowl portion 6 a. The bowl portion 6 a isconcave downward. The toilet bowl 6 receives body waste such as urineand feces of the user in the bowl portion 6 a.

The main part 14 of the toilet seat device 4 is attached on a portionbackward the bowl portion 6 a of the toilet bowl 6. The main part 14includes a case cover 20. The main part 14 pivotally supports rotatablythe toilet seat 10 and the toilet lid 12 on the case cover 20.

The case cover 20 includes an extending portion 22, a toilet seat pivotsupport portion 24, and a toilet lid pivot support portion 26. Theextending portion 22 has a height lowering toward forward. The extendingportion 22 is descending and inclined continuously toward forward. Theextending portion 22 has a curved concave surface 28. The curved concavesurface 28 is provided at the center portion of the extending portion 22in a horizontal direction, and is curved in a concave configurationalong a shape of an open edge of the bowl portion 6 a.

The toilet seat pivot support portion 24 is provided backward theextending portion 22 and pivotally supports the toilet seat 10. Thetoilet lid pivot support portion 26 is provided backward the toilet seatpivot support portion 24 and pivotally supports the toilet lid 12.

The toilet seat 10 is attached rotatably to the case cover 20 and shiftsbetween the closed state and the open state. The closed state of thetoilet seat 10 is a state in which a user is capable of sating upwardthe toilet bowl 6 (state shown in FIG. 1). The open state of the toiletseat 10 is a state in which an upper surface 6 u of the toilet bowl 6 isexposed (state shown in FIG. 2).

The toilet seat 10 includes a toilet seat main body 30, a pair of hingeportions 31, 32, and a buffer member 34. The toilet seat main body 30has an opening 30 a exposing the bowl portion 6 a. The toilet seat mainbody 30 is provided on the toilet bowl 6 so as to surround an outer edgeof the bowl portion 6 a in the closed state, and exposes the bowlportion 6 a via the opening 30 a. Thereby, the user can evacuate to thebowl portion 6 a in a sitting state on the toilet seat 10. This exampleshows the so called O-type toilet seat main body 30 having a throughhole-shaped opening 30 a formed. The toilet seat main body 30 is notlimited to the O-type and may be a U-type or the like. The opening 30 ais not limited to be through hole-shaped, and may be notch-shaped. Ashape viewed from upward of the toilet seat main body 30 in a use state(a state in which the user is capable of seating) is annular orU-shaped.

The hinge portions 31, 32 are provided on a rear end of the toilet seatmain body 30. The toilet seat main body 30 is pivotally supportedrotatably to the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 of the case cover20 via the hinge portions 31, 31. The hinge portion 31 is provided at aright end of the rear end of the toilet seat main body 30. The hingeportion 32 is provided at a left end of the rear end of the toilet seatmain body 30. The toilet seat main body 30 is pivotally supportedrotatably to the case cover 20 via the hinge portions 31, 32 byinterposing the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 with the hingeportions 31, 32.

The buffer member 34 is provided on a lower end surface 30 b of thetoilet seat main body 30. The buffer member 34 includes, for example, anelastic material such as gum. The buffer member 34 abuts, for example,the upper surface 6 u of the toilet bowl 6 in the closes state, andsupports the toilet seat main body 30. This can suppress scratches andbreakages or the like of the toilet bowl 6 and the toilet seat main body30. The buffer member 34 is provided multiply on the lower end surface30 b. The number of the buffer members 34 may be arbitrary, and may beone.

The toilet lid 12 is attached rotatably to the toilet lid pivot supportportion 26 of the case cover 20, and shifts between the closed statecovering the toilet seat 10 (state shown in FIG. 3) and the open stateexposing the toilet seat 10 (state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). Thetoilet lid 12 covers the toilet seat 10 and the bowl portion 6 a of thetoilet bowl 6 in the closed state.

The toilet lid 12 includes a lid main body 36 and a hanging portion 38.The lid main body 36 covers upward the toilet seat 10 in the closedstate. The hanging portion 38 hangs from an outer edge of the lid mainbody 36, and covers the side of the toilet seat 10 in the closed state.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the toilet apparatus according to theembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet seat 10 incorporates a heating part 40,and a temperature detection sensor 42. The heating part 40 is providedinside the toilet seat 10. The heating part 40 heats a seating surface(a surface being contact with a bottom of the user) SF from the insideby generating heat in response to energization. The heating part 40 is aso called heater. For example, a resistance heating technique and aninduction heating technique for heating by electromagnetic induction orthe like are used for the heating part 40.

The temperature detection sensor 42 detects, for example, thetemperature of the seating surface SF of the toilet seat 10. Thetemperature of the seating surface SF may be detected directly by thetemperature detection sensor 42, and may be determined by calculationbased on output of the temperature detection sensor 42.

The main part 14 includes a function part 50. The function part 50includes, for example, a controller 52, a seating detection sensor 54,and a human body detection sensor 56. The function part 50 isaccommodated in an internal space of the case cover 20. That is, thecase cover 20 covers the function part 50.

The seating detection sensor 54 is capable of detecting a human bodyexisting upward the toilet seat 10 just before the user seats on thetoilet seat 10, and the user seating on the toilet seat 10. The seatingdetection sensor 54 may detect not only the user seating on the toiletseat 10 but also the user existing above the toilet seat 10. An infraredtransmit/receive range sensor can be used for the seating detectionsensor 54 like this, for example.

The seating detection sensor 54 may be a switch turning ON/OFF based ona load when the user seats. The seating detection sensor 54 outputs asignal indicating detection of seating in response to detection of userseating.

The human body detection sensor 56 detects the user forward the toiletbowl 6, that is, the user existing at a position separated forward fromthe toilet seat 10. In other words, the human body detection sensor 56detects the user who enters a toilet room to approach the toilet seat10. The infrared transmit/receive range sensor can be used for the humanbody detection sensor 56 like this, for example. The human bodydetection sensor 56 outputs a signal indicating detection of the humanbody in response to detection of the human body.

The controller 52 is connected to the seating detection sensor 54 andthe human body detection sensor 56, and connected to the heating part 40of the toilet seat 10 and the temperature detection sensor 42. Thecontroller 52 controls energization quantity to the heating part 40 onthe basis of a detection signal from the temperature detection sensor42.

The controller 52 performs an immediate warm operation mode whichincreases the seating surface SF to a suitable temperature, for example,by stopping the energization to the heating part 40 or reducing theenergization quantity when not in use to set the seating surface SF ofthe toilet seat 10 to a lower temperature, and by increasing theenergization quantity to the heating part 40 when using to heat rapidlythe seating surface SF of the toilet seat 10.

The controller 52 performs detection of the user based on the detectionresult of the human body detection sensor 56 in a stand-by state inwhich the energization quantity to the heating part 40 is suppressed.When the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor 56,the controller 52 increases the energization quantity to the heatingpart 40, and heats the temperature of the seating surface SF of thetoilet seat 10 to the predetermined preset temperature.

At this time, a time from the detection of the user by the human bodydetection sensor 56 to the seating of the user on the toilet seat 10 isdetermined previously by statics. The controller completes heating tothe preset temperature within a time shorter than this time. This cansuppress the user from seating on the toilet seat 10 while thetemperature of the seating surface SF is low. It is possible to suppressthe user from experiencing rapid heating from the temperature in thestand-by state to the preset temperature.

The controller 52 determines whether the temperature of the seatingsurface SF increases to the preset temperature or not, for example, onthe basis of the detection results of the temperature detection sensor42. When increase to the preset temperature is confirmed, the controller52 controls the energization quantity to the heating part 40 so that thetemperature of the seating surface SF is substantially constant to thepreset temperature. That is, the controller 52 controls to keep thetemperature of the seating surface SF to the preset temperature afterthe temperature of the seating surface SF is increased to the presettemperature. Thereby, the toilet seat 10 at a suitable temperature canbe provided to the user.

The controller 52 detects that the user leaves the toilet seat 10 on thebasis of the detection results of the seating detection sensor 54, andin response to the detection, decreases the temperature of the seatingsurface SF from the preset temperature to the temperature in thestand-by state.

The controller 52 may perform, for example, a heat insulation operationmode keeping the temperature of the seating surface SF always to thepreset temperature without limiting to the immediate warm operationmode. The controller 52 may be configured to switch multiple operationmodes such as the immediate warm operation mode and the heat insulationoperation mode, for example.

In this manner, the function part 50 has the toilet seat warmingfunction warming the seating surface SF of the toilet seat 10. Thefunction part 50 may have, for example, a sanitary washing functionejecting water (cold water or hot water) toward “bottom” or the like ofthe user seating on the toilet seat 10 and washing the “bottom” or thelike of the user. Furthermore, the sanitary washing function may havevarious functions such as “warm air drying function” drying by blowingwarm air toward the “bottom” or the like of the user seating on thetoilet seat 10, “deodorizing function”, and “indoor warming function”.The function of the function part 50 is not limited to the above, andmay be arbitrary function used in the toilet apparatus 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the toilet seat main body 30 of the seat 10 includesa first portion 61 and a second portion 62. The first portion 61 ispositioned forward the case cover 20 in the closed state. The secondportion 62 rises toward backward from the first portion 61 in the closedstate, and overlaps the extending portion 22. The hinge portions 31, 32are provided at a rear end of the second portion 62. Thereby, the secondportion 62 is pivotally supported on the cover case 20. In FIG. 5, thetoilet bowl 6 and the toilet lid 12 are not shown conveniently.

A side face lower end 62 a of the second portion 62 is generallyparallel to a side face upper end 22 a of the extending portion 22. In astate in which the toilet seat 10 and the main part 14 are viewed fromthe side, a space SP1 in the vertical direction formed between the sideface lower end of the second portion 62 and the side face upper end 22 aof the extending portion 22 is substantially constant along thefront-back direction. Here, “the side face lower end 62 a and the sideface upper end 22 a are generally parallel” is, for example, a state inwhich a deviation of a length of the gap SP1 is not more than 2 mm overa region where the side face lower end 62 a opposes the side face upperend 22 a in the vertical direction. More favorably, the deviation of thelength of the gap SP1 is not more than 1 mm.

The extending portion 22 is descending and inclined continuously towardforward. The side face lower end 62 a of the second portion 62 isgenerally parallel to the side face upper end 22 a of the extendingportion 22 from a rear end 62 b of the second portion 62 to a front end22 f of the extending portion 22 in the closed state.

The side surface of the hinge portion 32 is quadrangle. The side surfaceof the hinge portion 32 is continued to the side surface of the secondportion 62. A side face lower end 32 a of the hinge portion 32 isgenerally parallel to the side face upper end 22 a of the extendingportion 22 in the closed state. “Quadrangle shape” includes, forexample, a shape with rounded corners of the quadrangle and slightlycurved sides of the quadrangle, and the like. Since the configuration ofthe hinge portion 31 is substantially the same as the configuration ofthe hinge portion 32, the detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the toiled lid 12 has a first region 71 and a secondregion 72. The first region 71 is positioned forward the cover case 20in the closed state. The second region 72 rises toward backward from thefirst portion 61 in the closed state, overlaps the extending portion 22,and is pivotally supported on the cover case 20.

A width in the horizontal direction of the second region 72 of thetoilet lid 12 is substantially the same as a width in the horizontaldirection of the cover case 20. A side surface of the second region 72of the toilet lid 12 forms a generally continuous surface to a sidesurface of the cover case 20 in the closed state. Thereby, the design ofthe toilet apparatus 2 in the state of the toilet lid 12 closed can beimproved.

A side face lower end 72 a of the second region 72 is generally parallelto the side face upper end 22 a of the extending portion 22 in theclosed state. In other words, the side face lower end 72 a of the secondregion 72 is a lower end of the hanging portion 38 in the second region72. In a state in which the toilet lid 12 and the main part 14 areviewed from the side, a space SP2 in the vertical direction formedbetween the side face lower end 72 a of the second region 72 and theside face upper end 22 a of the extending portion 22 is substantiallyconstant along the front-back direction.

The gap SP2 is, for example, not less than 1 mm and not more than 5 mm.Thereby, for example, the design of the toilet apparatus 2 in the stateof the toilet lid 12 closed can be improved while suppressing a lowerend of the toilet lid 12 from abutting to the main part 14.

The lower end of the hanging portion 38 of the first region 71 ispositioned downward the toilet seat main body 30 and upward a lower endof the buffer member 34 in the closed state. That is, in the state inwhich the toilet lid 12 is viewed from the side in the closed state, thehanging portion 38 covers the entire of the toilet seat main body 30.

A front end surface 38 a of the hanging portion 38 changes in the closedstate so as to recede toward downward. That is, the front end surface 38a of the hanging portion 38 is inclined in reversed tapered shape. Thefront end surface 38 a of the hanging portion 38 may be inclinedlinearly and may be curved in a curved line.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows A1-Ar line cross-section in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, an upper end surface 22 u of theextending portion 22 changes the height to lower toward forward and theheight to lower toward the side. In other words, the upper end surface22 u of the extending portion 22 is descending and inclined graduallytoward the side.

The lower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62 of the toilet seatmain body 30 changes the height to lower toward the side along the upperend surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 in the closed state. Thelower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62 of the toilet seat mainbody 30 is descending and inclined gradually toward the side in theclosed state.

The upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 has, for example,a convex curved surface shape. The lower end surface 30 b of the secondportion 62 of the toilet seat main body 30 has, for example, a convexcurved surface shape. A curvature of the lower end surface 30 b of thesecond portion 62 at the prescribed position is, for example, generallythe same as a curvature of the upper end surface 22 u of the extendingportion 22 at a position opposing the prescribed position in the closedstate. For example, the curvature of the lower end surface 30 b of thesecond portion 62 at the prescribed position not less than 0.9 times andnot less than 1.1 times the curvature of the upper end surface 22 u ofthe extending portion 22 at the position opposing the prescribedposition in the closed state. In other words, the lower end surface 30 bof the second portion 62 is generally parallel to the upper end surface22 u of the extending portion 22 in the cross-section orthogonal to thefront-back direction.

The upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 is, for example,not limited to the convex curved surface and may be inclined linearly.Similarly, the lower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62 of thetoilet seat main body 30 is not limited to the convex curved surface andmay be inclined linearly.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the cross-section orthogonal to the front-backdirection, the lowest point MLP1 of the lower end surface 30 b of thetoilet seat 10 in the closed state is positioned downward the highestpoint MHP of the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22. Thelowest point MLP1 of the lower end surface 30 b of the toilet seat 10 inthe closed state overlaps the extending portion 22 when viewed from theside.

In the cross-section orthogonal to the front-back direction, the lowestpoint MLP2 of the hanging portion 38 of the toilet lid 12 in the closedstate is positioned downward the highest point MHP of the upper endsurface 22 u of the extending portion 22. The lowest point MLP2 of thehanging portion 38 of the toilet lid 12 in the closed state overlaps theextending portion 22 when viewed from the side.

A change ratio of the height of a center portion in the horizontaldirection of the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 issmaller than a change ratio of the height of a side end portion of theupper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22. The center portionof the upper end surface 22 u is planar and more inclined toward theside.

A change ratio of the height of a center portion of the lower endsurface 30 b of the second portion 62 of the toilet seat main body 30 issmaller than a change ratio of the height of the side end portion of thelower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62. The center portion ofthe lower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62 extends in thehorizontal direction to be planar, and is more inclined toward the side.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the cross-section orthogonal to the front-backdirection, a height H11 of a center portion of an upper end surface 30 u(seating surface SF) of the second portion 62 of the toilet seat mainbody 30 is lower than a height H12 of a side end portion of the uppersurface end 30 u of the second portion 62 of the toilet seat main body30. The upper end surface 30 u of the second portion 62 of the toiletseat main body 30 has, for example, a concave curved surface shape.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged region B1 surrounded by a broken line in FIG.7.

As shown in FIG. 8, a lower end portion of an inside surface 38 n of thehanging portion 38 of the toilet lid 12 changes so as to spread outsidetoward downward in the second region 72. The lower end portion of thehanging portion 38 is formed in a tapered shape by making the insidesurface 38 n inclined toward the outside. The lower end portion of thehanging portion 38 of the second region 72 is thin toward downward.

The inside surface 38 n of the hanging portion 38 may be linearlyinclined and may be curved in a curved line. An inclination angle θ ofthe inside surface 38 n of the hanging portion 38 is, for example, notless than 10° and not more than 30° approximately. The inclination angleθ is not limited to the above and may be an arbitrary angle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows C1-C2 line cross-section in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, the hanging portion 38 of the toilet lid 12 does nothave a tapered shape in the first region 71. The hanging portion 38 inthe first region 71 has substantially the same thickness from an upperend portion to a lower end portion. The inside surface 38 n of thehanging portion 38 extends generally linearly from the upper end portionto the lower end portion. Therefore, a width W1 of the lower end of thehanging portion 38 in the first region 71 is wider than a width W2 (seeFIG. 8) of the lower end of the hanging portion 38 in the second region72.

Without limitation the above, the tapered shape may be formed at thelower end portion of the hanging portion 38 in the first region 71. Inthe first region 71, the lower end portion of the inside surface 38 n ofthe hanging portion 38 may be changed so as to spread outside towarddownward. That is, the entire of the lower end portion of the hangingportion 38 of the toilet lid 12 may be formed in a tapered shape.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows D1-D2 line cross-section in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 10, a height of an upper end surface 24 u of the toiletseat pivot support portion 24 becomes low toward forward. The upper endsurface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 is continuouslydescending and inclined toward forward.

A height of an upper end surface 26 u of the toilet lid pivot supportportion 26 becomes low toward forward. The upper end surface 26 u of thetoilet lid pivot support portion 26 is, for example, generally parallelto the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion24. A length LG1 in the front-back direction of the upper end surface 24u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 is longer than a lengthLG2 in the front-back direction of the upper end surface 26 u of thetoilet lid pivot support portion 26.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows enlarged portions related to the toilet seat main body 30and the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the upper end surface 24 u of thetoilet seat pivot support portion 24 forms a generally continuoussurface to the upper end surface 30 u (seating surface SF) of the secondportion 62 of the toilet seat main body 30. A height change of aforefront of the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot supportportion 24 in the horizontal direction is generally the same as a heightchange of a rear end of the upper end surface 30 u of the second portion62 in the horizontal direction (e.g. see FIG. 1). In other words, theforefront of the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot supportportion 24 is generally parallel to the rear end of the upper endsurface 30 u of the second portion 62. The height change of theforefront of the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot supportportion 24 in the horizontal direction and the height change of the rearend of the upper end surface 30 u of the second portion 62 in thehorizontal direction are, for example, generally horizontal.

Here, “generally continuous surface” refers to a state in which, forexample, in the cross-section orthogonal to the horizontal direction, anangle α1 between a virtual line VVL and a tangent line TL1 is not morethan 5°, and an angle α2 between the virtual line VL and a tangent lineTL2 is not more than 5°. The virtual line VL is a virtual lineconnecting the rear end of the upper end surface 30 u of the toilet seatmain body 30 to the front end of the upper end surface 24 u of thetoilet seat pivot support portion 24 in the cross-section orthogonal tothe horizontal direction. The tangent line TL1 is a tangent line to therear end portion of the upper end surface 30 u of the toilet seat mainbody 30 in the cross-section orthogonal to the horizontal direction. Thetangent line TL2 is a tangent line to the front end portion of the upperend surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 in thecross-section orthogonal to the horizontal direction.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are cross-sectional views showing a referenceexample.

As shown in FIG. 12A, in a case where a large step is formed between theupper end surface 30 u of the toilet seat main body 30 and the upper endsurface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24, at least oneof the angles α1 and α2 is larger than 5°. Similarly, as shown in FIG.12B, also in a case where the inclination angle of the upper end surface30 u of the toilet seat main body 30 is largely different from theinclination angle of the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivotsupport portion 24, at least one of the angles α1 and α2 is larger than5°. An angle between the tangent line TL1 and the horizontal plane isset to be 18.5°, and an angle between the tangent line TL2 and thehorizontal plane is set to be 23.5°. An angle between the tangent lineTL2 and the horizontal plane is set in a range from 22° to 40°.

In this manner, the angle α1 between the virtual line VL and the tangentline TL1 is set to be not more than 5°, and the angle α2 between thevirtual line VL and the tangent line TL2 is set to be not more than 5°.Thereby, the upper end surface 30 u of the toilet seat main body 30 andthe upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24can be recognized as the generally continuous surface. The respectiveangles are set in a convex direction with the inflection point as thecenter, and an angle difference is desired to be not more than 10° andfurthermore desired to be not more than 5°. If in the convex direction,the user is unlikely to touch the case cover 20, and thus comfortabilityis preserved (since not being warmed by the heater, the possibility oftouching the cold case cover 20 decreases). If in the concave direction,the user touches both of the toilet seat 10 and the case cover 20, andperceives easily.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the toiletapparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows E1-E2 cross-section in FIG. 3.

As described with respect to FIG. 7, in the cross-section orthogonal tothe front-back direction, the height H11 of the center portion of theupper end surface 30 u (seating surface SF) of the second portion 62 ofthe toilet seat main body 30 is lower than the height H12 of the sideend portion of the upper surface end 30 u of the second portion 62 ofthe toilet seat main body 30.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, in the cross-section orthogonalto the front-back direction, a height H21 of a center portion of theupper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 ishigher than a height H22 of a side end portion of the upper end surface24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24. The upper end surface24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 has, for example, aconvex curved surface shape.

In this manner, the change amount increasing toward backward of thecenter portion of the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivotsupport portion 24 is larger than the change amount increasing towardbackward of the side end portion of the upper end surface 24 u of thetoilet seat pivot support portion 24. The change amount decreasingtoward forward of a center portion of the upper end surface 30 u of thesecond portion 62 is larger than the change amount decreasing towardforward of a side end portion of the upper end surface 30 u of thesecond portion 62.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a portion of the toilet apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the top view, an upper end surface 32 u of thehinge portion 32 is quadrangle. The upper end surface 32 u of the hingeportion 32 forms a generally continuous surface to the upper end surface30 u of the second portion 62 of the toilet seat main body 30 and theupper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24. Theupper end surface 32 u of the hinge portion 32 is, for example,continuous to the upper end surface 30 u of the toilet seat main body30.

The shape of the upper end surface 32 u of the hinge portion 32 is notlimited to be quadrangle, and may be an arbitrary shape. Since theconfiguration of the hinge portion 31 is substantially the same as theconfiguration of the hinge portion 32, the detailed description will beomitted. “Quadrangle” and “generally continuous surface” are definedsimilarly as described above.

As described above, according to the toilet apparatus 2 according to theembodiment, by making the side face lower end 62 a of the second portion62 generally parallel to the side face upper end 22 a of the extendingportion 22 in the closed state, the design can be improved compared withthe case where the gap between the toilet seat 10 and the case cover 20is non-uniform. The toilet apparatus 2 having a favorable design can beprovided. If the gap is generally constant, compared with the case ofbeing non-uniform, the side surface of the second portion 62 and theside surface of the extending portion 22 can be easy to be wiped, andthe cleanliness can be improved as well.

The extending portion 22 is caused to be descending and inclined towardforward, and the side face lower end 52 a of the second portion 62 ismade generally parallel to the side face upper end 22 a of the extendingportion 22 from the rear end of the second portion 62 to the front endof the extending portion 22 in the closed state, and thus the gap formedbetween the front end of the extending portion 22 and the toilet seat 10can be suppressed and the design of the toilet apparatus 2 can be moreimproved.

The side surfaces of the hinge portions 31, 32 are made quadrangle, andcontinuous to the side surface of the second portion 62, and are madegenerally parallel to the side end upper end 22 a of the extendingportion 22 in the closed state, and thus the gap formed between thehinge portions 31, 32 and the case cover 20 can be suppressed and thedesign of the toilet apparatus 2 can be more improved.

The side face lower end 72 a of the second region 72 is made generallyparallel to the side face upper end 22 a of the extending portion 22 inthe closed state, and thus the design of the toilet apparatus 2 in astate of the toilet lid 12 closed can be improved.

In the toilet apparatus 2, the upper end surface 22 u of the extendingportion 22 is changed so as to lower the height toward forward and tolower the height toward the side. The lower end surface 30 b of thesecond portion 62 of the toilet seat main body 30 is changed along theupper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 so as to lower theheight toward the side. Even if cold air enters between the lower endsurface 30 b of the toilet seat main body 30 and the upper end surface22 u of the extending portion 22, the cold air tends to go downward, andthus the cold air can be easily exhausted to the outside along the slopeof the lower end surface 30 b of the toilet seat main body 30 and theslope of the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22.Therefore, when the seating surface SF is heated, the temperature of theseating surface SF can be suppressed from decreasing. The toiletapparatus 2 having the temperature of the seating surface SF suppressedfrom decreasing can be provided. The noise and scratch due to contactbetween the case cover 20 and the toilet seat 10 can be suppressed aswell.

The upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 is gentlydescending and inclined toward the side, and thus the upper end surface22 u can be easily wiped compared with the case of the upper end surface22 u having a step, and the like. The cleanliness of the toiletapparatus 2 can be improved as well.

By making the curvature of the prescribed position of the lower endsurface 30 b of the second portion 62 generally the same as thecurvature of the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 atthe position opposing the prescribed position in the closed state, thecold air which enters between the lower end surface 30 b of the toiletseat main body 30 and the upper end surface 22 u of the extendingportion 22 can be more easily exhausted to the outside. The temperatureof the seating surface SF can be suppressed more from decreasing.

In the cross-section orthogonal to the front-back direction, by causingthe lowest point of the lower end surface 30 b of the toilet seat 10 inthe closed state to position downward the highest point of the upper endsurface 22 u of the extending portion 22, the cold air can be suppressedfrom entering between the lower end surface 30 b of the toilet seat mainbody 30 and the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22. Thetemperature of the seating surface SF can be suppressed more fromdecreasing. When viewing the main part 14 and the toilet seat 10 fromthe side, the gap is not seen and the design of the toilet apparatus 2can be improved.

The change ratio of the height of the center portion of the upper endsurface 22 u of the extending portion 22 is made smaller than the changeratio of the height of the side end portion of the upper end surface 22u of the extending portion 22, and the change ratio of the height of thecenter portion of the lower end surface 30 b of the second portion 62 ofthe toilet seat main body 30 is made smaller than the change ratio ofthe height of the side end portion of the lower end surface 30 b of thesecond portion 62. Thereby, compared with the case where the lower endsurface 30 b of the toilet seat main body 30 changes at the same changeratio from the side end portion to the center portion, the side faceportion of the toilet seat 10 which needs strength can be reinforced,and the center portion of the toilet seat 10 which does not need muchstrength can be thinned. Therefore, while suppressing the temperature ofthe seating surface SF from decreasing, the toilet apparatus 2 can besuppressed from increasing in size.

In the toilet apparatus 2, the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seatpivot support portion 24 forms a generally continuous surface to theupper end surface 30 u of the second portion 62. Thereby, even if theuser sits deeply on the toilet seat 10, the user can be suppressed fromreceiving feeling of dislike. Due to the portion of the upper endsurface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24, impression ofbroadening the seating surface SF is produced and the user can receivefeeling of security. Compared with the case where the upper end surface24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 is discontinuous to theupper end surface 30 u of the second portion 62, the design of thetoilet apparatus 2 can be improved. The toilet apparatus 2 havingfavorable usability can be provided.

By making the center portion of the upper end surface 30 u of the secondportion 62 lower than the side end portion of the upper end surface 30 uof the second portion 62, the shape of the upper end surface 30 u of thesecond portion 62 can be fit to the shape of buttocks of the human body,and comfort to sit on can be improved. By making the center portion ofthe upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24higher than the side end portion of the upper end surface 24 u of thetoilet seat pivot support portion 24, when the buttocks of the usertouch the upper end surface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot supportportion 24, while suppressing feeling of dislike, it is possible to makethe user notice sitting on the case cover 20. While suppressing the userfrom receiving feeling of dislike, it is possible to guide the user toan adequate position of the toilet seat 10.

By making the length in the front-back direction of the upper endsurface 24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24 longer than thelength in the front-back direction of the upper end surface 26 u of thetoilet lid pivot support portion 26, even when the user sits deeply onthe toilet seat 10, it is possible to suppress more the user fromreceiving feeling of dislike. The design of the toilet apparatus 2 canbe improved by showing the case cover 20 and the toilet seat 10together.

By making the shape of the upper end surfaces of the hinge portions 31,32 quadrangle and forming a generally continuous surface between theupper end surface 30 u of the second region 62 and the upper end surface24 u of the toilet seat pivot support portion 24, it is possible to showthe case cover 20 and the toilet seat 10 together and the design of thetoilet apparatus 2 can be improved.

In the toilet apparatus 2, the lower end portion of the inside surface38 n of the hanging portion 38 changes so as to broaden to the outsidetoward downward. Thereby, when the lower end of the hanging portion 38abuts the case cover 20, the lower end of the hanging portion 38broadens to the outside and it is possible to escape the force appliedto the case cover 20 to the outside. Therefore, without designdeclining, also in the case where the user sits on the toilet lid 12, itis possible to suppress scratches and breakages of the main part 14 andto obtain high reliability.

Since the upper end surface 22 u of the extending portion 22 changes soas to lower the height toward the side, and thus when the lower end ofthe hanging portion 38 abuts the case cover 20, the lower end of thehanging portion 38 can be easily broadened to the outside. It ispossible to suppress scratches and breakages of the main part 14 more.

In the cross-section orthogonal to the front-back direction, the lowestpoint of the hanging portion 38 of the toilet lid 12 in the closed stateis positioned at a position downward the highest point of the upper endsurface 22 u of the extending portion 22, therefore, when viewing themain part 14 and the toilet lid 12 from the side, the gap is not seenand the design of the toilet apparatus 2 can be improved.

By making the width of the lower end of the first region 71 of thetoilet lid 12 wider than the width of the lower end of the second region72, when opening/closing the toilet lid 12 manually, it is possible tomake it easy to hold the lower end of the first region 71. When thelower end of the first region 71 abuts the toilet bowl 6 or the like,scratches and breakages of the toilet bowl 6 and the toilet lid 12 canbe suppressed.

The lower end of the hanging portion 38 is positioned at the positiondownward the toilet seat main body 30 and upward the lower end of thebuffer member 34, and thus visual recognition of the toilet seat mainbody 30 is suppressed when viewing from the side and the design of thetoilet apparatus 2 can be improved. While improving the design, thetoilet lid 12 can be suppressed from abutting the toilet bowl 6. Sinceair flow from the gap between the toilet seat main body 30 and the upperend of the toilet bowl 6 can be suppressed, in the case of the toiletbowl 6 having the warming function, the heat insulation of the toiletseat 10 is improved and energy saving of the toilet apparatus 2 isobtained.

Since the front end surface 38 a of the hanging portion 38 changes inthe closed state so as to recede toward downward, also in the case wherethe lower end of the hanging portion 38 is extended downward the toiletseat main body 30, it is possible to hold a hand on the front endsurface 38 a of the hanging portion 38 easily and to open/close manuallythe toilet lid 12 easily. Hereinabove, the embodiments of the inventionare described. However, the invention is not limited to thedescriptions. Design modification appropriately made by a person skilledin the art in regard to the embodiments described above is within thescope of the invention to the extent that the features of the inventionare included. For example, the shape, the dimension, the material, thedisposition or the like of the components included in the toiletapparatus 2 or the like are not limited to illustrations and can bechanged appropriately.

Further, any two or more components of the embodiments may be combinedwithin the extent of technical feasibility and are included in the scopeof the invention to the extent that the purport of the invention isincluded.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet apparatus comprising: a main partincluding a function part, and a case cover covering the function part,the main part being attached on a toilet bowl; and a toilet seatattached rotatably to the case cover, the toilet seat shifting between aclosed state and an open state, in the closed state a user being capableof seating upward the toilet bowl, in the open state an upper surface ofthe toilet bowl being exposed, the case cover including an extendingportion, a height of the extending portion becoming low toward forward,and a toilet seat pivot support portion provided backward the extendingportion, and pivotally supporting the toilet seat, the toilet seatincluding a first portion positioned forward the case cover in theclosed state, and a second portion rising backward from the firstportion in the closed state, overlapping the extending portion, andbeing pivotally supported to the toilet seat pivot support portion, andan upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot support portion changingto lower a height toward forward, and forming a generally continuoussurface to an upper end surface of the second portion.
 2. The toiletapparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height change of a forefrontof the upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot support portion in ahorizontal direction is generally the same as a height change of a rearend of the upper end surface of the second portion in the horizontaldirection, a change amount increasing toward backward of a centerportion of the upper end surface of the toilet seat pivot supportportion is larger than a change amount increasing toward backward of aside end portion of the upper end surface of the toilet seat pivotsupport portion, and a change amount decreasing toward forward of acenter portion of the upper end surface of the second portion is largerthan a change amount decreasing toward forward of a side end portion ofthe upper end surface of the second portion.
 3. The toilet apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a toilet lid attachedrotatably to the case cover, the toilet lid shifting between the closedstate and the open state, in the closed state the toilet seat beingcovered, in the open state the toilet seat being exposed, the case coverbeing provided backward the toilet seat pivot support portion, andincluding a toilet lid pivot support portion pivotally supporting thetoilet lid, and a length in a front-back direction of the upper endsurface of the toilet seat pivot support portion being longer than alength in the front-back direction of an upper end surface of the toiletlid pivot support portion.
 4. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the toilet seat is provided at a rear end of the second portionand includes a pair of hinge portions pivotally supported to the toiletseat pivot support portion, and an upper end surface of the pair ofhinge portions is quadrangle, and forms the generally continuous surfaceto the upper end surface of the second portion and the upper end surfaceof the toilet seat pivot support portion.